Bowling ball handling apparatus for automatic pinsetting machines



IFIG.2

Aug. 1, 1961 A. E. FITZGERALD 2,994,532

BOWLING BALL HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1959 United States Patent 2,994,532 BOWLING BALL HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINES Alfred E. Fitzgerald, Peekskill, N.Y. (670 Sharon Lane, Yorktown, N.Y.) Filed Mar. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 801,841 2 Claims. (Cl. 27343) This invention relates to an improved bowling ball handling apparatus and more particularly to a device for efiicient removal of the bowling ball from the alley so that it may be subsequently returned to the bowler through a suitable ball return runway.

In present day automatic pinsetting apparatus an integral feature of the mechanism is a device for removing the pins and bowling ball from the alley, respotting the pins and returning the ball to the bowler. One such ball and pin handling mechanism is described in US. Patent 2,785,898 issued to J. Zuercher and assigned to American Machine and Foundry Company. In such a mechanism there is provided in the pit of a bowling alley an endless conveyor, such as an endless belt which is pit wide and extends substantially the full length of the pit. The endless belt has a bowling object receiving portion adjacent the header board or end of the alley, and a discharge portion at the rear of the backstop or cushion. Operatively associated with the endless belt is a belt agitating device, such an eccentrically mounted roller which may be driven continuously by its engagement with the under surface of the top lap of the endless conveyor belt. This roller is located slightly in front of the backstop or cushion and its rotation causes the endless conveyor pin and ball supporting lap to move rapidly up and down. This action agitates pins lying on the surface thereof and is intended to prevent them from jamming or tangling beneath the backstop or adjacent thereto. Furthermore it is intended to prevent any pins or balls, so called sleepers, from lying along the sides of the kickbacks of the alley.

The mechanism of the prior art is designed for use with ball return apparatus, such as is described in US. Patent 2,776,138 issued to R. L. Holloway, also assigned to American Machine and Foundry Company. To assist in directing the bowling ball from the conveyor belt to the ball return mechanism a buffer board is provided beneath the lap of the conveyor and across the pit. This board is mounted in such a manner that it is inclined with respect to the exit door for the bowling ball and thereby assists the conveyor in performing the function of moving the ball toward the door. To further facilitate the removal of the ball from the belt the eccentric roller is also mounted with a slight inclination, substantially in the same direction as the inclination of the buffer board. The combination of these elfects is intended to cause continuous movement of the bowling ball, once it reaches the conveyor belt, into the exit door of the ball return mechanism.

Despite the many mechanisms which operate upon the bowling ball in the manner described above, it is observed that in practice the ball, will, upon numerous occasions, wedge itself against the exit door and resist the concerted actions of the inclined boards and eccentric roller to propel it with suflicient force to open the exit door to permit it to enter the ball return mechanism. When this mishap occurs in the operation of the automatic pinsetting apparatus the bowling ball will not be returned to the bowler and a manual service operation is required to remedy the situation. That is to say, a service man must keep alerted in the pits of the alley for such a situation in order to dislodge the ball. Obviously this is a costly and highly undesirable procedure and time consuming for the bowler.

An object of the present invention is therefore to pro- "ice vide an improved ball handling apparatus for use in the pit of a bowling alley consisting of a pit wide longitudinally extending pin and ball conveyor located in the pit of an alley so as to prevent jams of the ball in traversing across the conveyor and into ball return mechanisms.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel, improved and useful eccentric roller device or attachment which will assure complete automatic removal of the bowling ball from the conveyor whereby it may pass through an exit door into a ball return mechamsm.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the eccentric or center roller device or attachment of the present invention, the attachment being shown in position ready for mounting on the roller.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, in schematic form, of the ball handling mechanism of the present invention, showing in particular the location of the roller attachment in relation to the exit door.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, with parts also being broken away, of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the bowling ball is indicated as being in position for propulsion against the exit door.

FIGURE 4 is a front view showing the attachment mounted on the roller.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of the invention is shown, comprising a ring attachment 1 for a center or eccentric roller member 2 used in an automatic ball and pin handling mechanism. The device shown is intended to be positioned on said roller at a point near the exit door 3 and to rotate with it. According to one form this invention may take a ring 4 is split at one point in order to facilitate inserting a nib or bumper piece 5. The ring in this construction may easily be mounted around the roller member 2. The bumper piece may be made of any suitable material such as rubber, plastic, wood, or laminated materials having sufficient rigidity to stand impacts. In operation any ball that is lodged against the exit door will be projected into the door by the action of the bumper striking the underside of the ball. Applicant has demonstrated that by using the device shown herein the sleepers commonly associated with the existing equipment in this area are entirely eliminated along with the necessary service calls.

While we have described and pointed out the fundamental novel features as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ball and pin handling mechanism for use in. a pit of a bowling alley comprising an endless conveyor having a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting lap, driving and driven rollers operatively supporting said conveyor and having means therein to direct said ball from said lap toward a ball return exit door located at one side of the pit, said means including an eccentric roller located beneath said lap of said conveyor, a bumper member rotatably mounted on said eccentric roller and positioned thereon at a point near said exit door, whereby the impact of said bumper member against the underfrom said lap toward a ball return exit door located at one side of the pit, said means including an eccentric roller located beneath said lap of said conveyor, a ring having a nib thereon mounted on said eccentric roller at a point near said exit door and rotatable therewith, whereby the impact of said nib against the underside of a bowling ball advancing toward said exit door will propel said ball against said door with sufiicient force to 5 cause said door to open and permit said ball to enter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jones Nov. 22, 1955 Zuercher Mar. 19, 1957 

